The top-three effort
was Soaring Eagle/ Jimmy John’s/ Suzuki Factory Racing Roczen’s fourth
consecutive podium finish: Over the last four races, the 20-year-old
German rider has jumped from sixth to second in the standings, where he
trails event winner and defending series champion, Ryan Dungey, by 26
points with 11 events remaining on the 2016 schedule.

Weimer
maintained his grip on 10th in points following a 12th-place finish
Saturday night and now sits 10 points behind eighth-place Justin Brayton
and 15 back from Marvin Musquin in seventh.

Broc Tickle, rider
of RCH’s No. #20 Suzuki RM-Z450, was sidelined for the third race in a
row while he recovers from the wrist injury sustained in a practice
crash last month.

While Roczen was pleased with his overall
result, he noted the track presented its share of challenges and is
hoping to smooth-out some of the rough-edges and mount a charge at the
title during the heart of the season.

Said Roczen: “My weekend
was actually a little rough. We struggled all day with the bike
settings. I didn’t feel too comfortable. We were going back-and-forth
with a bunch of settings so we had to work hard for it. We went into the
Main Event with another little change and salvaged a third. Obviously
we want to win but we’re on the podium and we’re healthy so that means a
lot. We’re still in the championship hunt. I wish I would have ‘gotten
Cole (Seely) for second, but the track was really tight in some spots so
it was hard to pass. The dirt had a really hard base, so it was
slippery. The whoops were tough again but we salvaged a third, which is
alright.”

Weimer finished sixth in his heat and eighth in the
Semi and had to race his way into the ‘Main’ via the Last Chance
Qualifier (LCQ). After securing a starting spot in the Main Event by
finishing second, Weimer turned in a workman’s performance in the
feature but came-up a couple spots short of earning his fourth top-10 of
the year.

“I had to race my way through the LCQ and finally got
to the Main,” Weimer explained. “I was just trying to ride. I made a
few passes and with like five laps to go, I was making another push to
try and get inside the top-10 and just a mistake on my part and went
down. I got back up and didn’t lose any spots but later that lap, a
‘lapper did something I wasn’t expecting, so I ran into him and went
down again. It was a little bit of a tough night, results-wise, but I
feel like this was an improvement from last weekend. We’re figuring some
stuff out, so I’m feeling good about it. I would have liked better
results but we’ll keep plugging away.”

RCH co-owner Carey Hart was in the paddock in San Diego and, for the most part, was pleased with his team’s effort.

“Overall,
it was a good night,” said Hart. “I think everyone was uncomfortable to
a certain degree. The track was very challenging. Ken did a good job of
adapting. He had a decent start, but he just got locked-up with (Trey)
Canard for a little while and that’s the difference. When (Ryan) Dungey
starts up-front, you have to be able to come through. Ken did a great
job. He didn’t feel great and we still got a third. We’ll keep plugging
away. All in all, it was a great night. It was a rough night for Weimer
but he fought through it. Both guys are top-10 in the points. We’re
looking forward to getting-off the West Coast and heading east.”

Roczen,
Weimer and the rest of the Monster Energy Supercross contingent dial-up
a trip to AT&T Stadium this weekend when the series visits
Arlington, Texas and the home of the Dallas Cowboys for the seventh of
17 rounds of the 2016 AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship.

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